Discharge assembly for a fire extinguisher



United States Patent Richard A. Berti 3710 Monterey Pines, Apt. B205 93105, and Eric Bruckner, 3704 State St., Santa Barbara, California 93103 [211 App]. No. 748,102

[22} Filed July 26, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 27, 1970 [72] Inventors [54] DISCHARGE ASSEMBLY FOR A FIRE EXTlNGUlSl-IER 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 169/26, 169/31. 169/42, 239/337 [51] Int. Cl A62c 35/02 [50] Field ofSearch 169/2, 26.

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,166,277 7/1939 Adams 169/26 2,519,350 8/1950 Cahusac 169/26 2,824,614 2/1958 Bowman 169/26 Primary Examiner-M. HensOn Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerMichael Y. Mar Attorney-Spensley and Horn DISCHARGE ASSEMBLY FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fire extinguishers have been built which are an integral part I of a large container such as a trash barrel; for example, see US. Pat. Nos. 3,206,06l; 2,598,273 and 1,832,656. These extinguishers have the disadvantage of being integral parts of the trash container and therefore unusable to extinguish fires other than those occurring in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A fire extinguisher discharge assembly consisting of a valve assembly and a release assembly. The valve assembly comprises a valve member operated by a valve stem. The valve member slidingly engages a valve seat which is part of a housing. the housing being coupled to the extinguisher. The valve stem is coupled to a release mechanism which automatically releases the contents of the extinguisher when the release mechanism senses a predetermined temperature. Screw thread means are provided between thervalve stem and the valve housing to secure the valve assembly for storing or trans porting the extinguisher. The contents of the extinguisher may be discharged manually at any time. thereby overriding the automatic release assembly.

An object of this invention is to provide a discharge assembly for a fire extinguisher which automatically discharges the contents of the extinguisher upon sensing a predetermined temperature.

Another object of this invention is to provide a discharge assembly which has a secure or locked position.

Still a further object is to provide a discharge assembly for a fire extinguisher which, while capable of discharging the contents of the extinguisher automatically. will permit manual discharge of the extinguishers contents.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fire extinguisher discharge assembly particularly suitable for use on a fire extinguisher which is attached to a container such as a trash container. 4

Other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood by reading of the detailed description in conjunction with the referenced drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I illustrates the discharge assembly coupled to a fire extinguisher;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fire extinguisher attached to a trash contamer;

FIG. 3 illustrates the valve assembly in theloading position;

FIG. 4 illustrates the valve assembly and release assembly in the secure position;

FIG. 5 illustrates the valve assembly and release assembly in the temperature sensing mode; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the valve assembly and release assembly in the discharge position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, the discharge assembly for a fire extinguisher can be seen coupled to a fire extinguisher l0. Coupling of the discharge assembly body 26 to the extinguisher can be accomplished by any one of the commonly known methods such as welding or press fitting.

The two major components of a discharge assembly are illustrated in FIG. 4 as the valve assembly comprising valve stem 12, valve member 14, O-ring 16, valve housing 18 and the release mechanism comprising lever arm 20, fuse 22 and fulcrum 24. These two components are held in place by a discharge assembly body 26. Body 26 is a metal or plastic body suitably shaped to engage threads 11 and to couple the components with each other and extinguisher 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, the valve housing 18 consists of a cylindrical elongated housing having an inside bore extending from one end of the housing to the other. The housing may be manufactured of metal or other suitable material. The exterior diameter of the housing contains screw threads I] for fasteningthe housing to the discharge assembly body 26 or aI ternately to filler tube 28 as shown in FIG. 3. One end of the housing 18 contains screw threads 28 on the inside diameter of the bore. A portion of the inside diameter of the bore has a smaller diameter than the remainder of the bore and acts as a valve seat. Valve seat 30 is shown in FIG. 4 and is concentric with the bore of housing 18. The other end of housing 18 is coupled to tube 19. Tube 19 can be made of metal or other plastic material and extends from housing I8 to the base of extinguisher 10 to allow fluid in the container to flow into the valve.

Valve stem 12 is an elongated cylindrical metal member. It may be made of plastic, metal or any other suitable material. One end of valve stem I2 is coupled to valve member 14. The other end is coupled to the release assembly. Valve stem 12 contains threads 32 which mate with threads 28 of housing I8. Valve stem I2 is made so that it may freely move both below and above threads 28 on housing I8; that is, threads 32 can be fully turned to allow valve stem III to move below threads 28 as shown in FIG. 3 or threads 32 may be disengaged from threads 28 so that the valve stem 12 may move above threads 28 of housing 18 as shown in FIG. 5.

Valve member I4 consists of a cylindrically shaped \alve member suitable for receiving O-ring I6 and rigidly coupled to valve stem I2. Valve member 14 may be made of metal. plastic or any other suitable material. Valve stem 14 is made so that it may freely pass through valve seat 30 of housing 18. O-ring I6 is a commonly utilized O-ring suitable for engaging valve member 14 and for sealingly engaging valve seat 30 thereby permitting a seal to be maintained between the two ends of the bore of housing I8. It should be noted that valve member I4 may be moved from position 32 to position 34 on valve seat 30 and that O-ring 16 will maintain a seal over the entire length of valve seat 30.

The lever arm 20 of the release assembly consists of a strip of metal having a width at least greater than the diameter of the upper portion of valve stem 12. One end of the lever arm contains an elliptical hole for receiving the upper end of valve stem 12'. The other end contains an indentation at point 38 for receiving fuse 22. Lever arm 20 is disposed between points 36 and 38 under tension. In FIG. 6, lever arm 20is shown in position when it is not under tension. When the lever arm is moved into position as shown in FIG. 4 and the fuse is placed at point 38, an upward force 44 is exerted against the lever arm at point 38. A downward force 40 is exerted on the lever arm at the point where fulcrum 24 engages the lever arm, and an upward force 42 is exerted at point 36 where the lever arm engages the discharge assembly body 26.

The fulcrum is a V-shaped metal strip made to fit against body 26 and containing a hole at one end to allow the free passage of valve stem 12.

Fuse 22is a metal fuse which is sensitive to temperature and which will melt at a predetermined temperature. Fuse 22 may be any one of commonly known temperature sensitive metals.

Beginning with FIG. 3, the operation of the discharge assembly can be readily understood. FIG. 3 illustrates the filling or loading operation of the extinguisher. First, the body 26 of the dischargeassembly is unscrewed from screw threads 11 of housingl8. Tube 48.is then engaged on threads I 1. Stem I2 is then turned so that screw threads 32 unscrew below threads 28 of housing 18. The stem is then moved to the position where O-ring 16 of valve member 14 is below valve seat 30. In this position fluid or gas may readily pass through tube 48 into the extinguisher 10. Once the extinguisher is filled, screw threads 32 are again mated with threads 28 of the housing, thereby allowing O-ring I6 to sealingly engage seat 30 preventing the extinguishers contents from escaping. After this. the tube 48 is disengaged and body 26 of the discharge as sembly is then screwed onto threads 11 as shown in FIG. 4. V

In FIG. 4, threads 32 of stem 12 are engaged with threads 28. In this position the extinguisher with the discharge assembly' may be readily moved about and transported. With threads 32 engaging threads 28 there is no possibility that stem 12 can be moved'so that fluid will escape from extinguisher 10. In this position the discharge assembly is secured.

In FIG. 5, threads 32 on stem 12 have been unthreaded above threads 28 of housing 18, and the valve stem has been moved upward so that fluid may pass through the opening 50.

Note that even in this position, fluid does not flow from extinguisher 10 since O-ring 16 is still sealingly engaging seat 30 of housing 18. Inthis position, the discharge assembly is ready to fire and upon sensing a high temperature. will, in fact, discharge fluid from extinguisher 10.

Upon sensing a high temperature, fuse 22 will melt and the force 44 of FIG. 4 holding lev'er arm 20 in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be removed, thereby causing an imbalance. Force 40 shown in FIG. 4 will force lever arm 20 to the position shown'in FIG. 6 thereby releasing the tension in lever arm 20. When the lever arm is forced into this position, the elliptically shaped hole in lever arm 20, which is engaging the upper portion of stem 12, will allow stem 12 to move freely within the lever arm. The pressure of the fluid or gas in extinguisher 10 will then force stem 12 to the position shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the contents of extinguisher 10 will flow through valve housing 18 as shown by arrows 50 to discharge port 52.

It should be noted that while the relea e mechanism and valve are in the ready to fire position as shown in FIG. 5. the extinguisher may be made to discharge its contents simply by manually removingfuse 22 and depressing handle 54.

Another feature of the disclosed discharge assembly is that the pressure inside extinguisher l0 may be readily checked when the release mechanism is in the ready to fire position.

This check isaccomplished by noting the resisting force when handle 54 is slightly depressed.

In FIG. 2, the extinguisher I0 is shown attached to a trash container 8. Body 26 of the discharge assembly is positioned so that discharge port 52 is aimed into container 8. When fuse 22 melts, from heat generated in container 8. the contents of extinguisher 10 are discharged into the fire as illustrated. Brackets 9, which hold extinguisher 10 on container 8, do not rigidly hold extinguisher 10 Therefore, it is possible to quickly remove the extinguisher from container 8 and use it elsewhere, simply by manually disengaging fuse 22 and depressing handle 54.

Thus, a discharge assembly for a tire extinguisher has been disclosed that permits. l l l filling of the extinguisher, (2) securing or locking the discharge assembly in a position so that the extinguisher may be readily removed without fear of expanding its contents. (3) automatic discharge of the extinguishers contents when sensing a predetermined temperature,

' (4) manual discharge of the extinguishers contents, and 5) a check of the pressure in the extinguisher The disclosed discharge assembly. while particularly suitable for a fire extinguisher will undoubtedly be suitable for numerous other applications.

We claim.- I

l. A discharge assembly for a fire extinguisher where the fire extinguisher is suitable for being attached to a container co prising;

a. a valve housing having ari inside. elongated, cylindrical bore, said bore having a first and a second end and a valve seat consisting of a reduced inside diameter of said bore, said seat extending along a portion of the length of said 2. The discharge assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the Q first end of said bore of said housing is coupled to a discharge port.

3. The discharge assembly defined in claim 2, wherein the second end of the said bore of the said housing is coupled to the inside of the said fire extinguisher. I

4. The discharge assembly defined inclaim 3, wherein said first end of said bore of said housing contains threads.

5. The discharge assembly defined inclaim 4, wherein said valve stem contains threads for engaging said threads on said first end of said bore.

6. The discharge assembly defined in claim 5, wherein said valve member contains an O-ring for sealingly engaging said valve seat.

7. The discharge assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises:

a fulcrum;

a fuse coupled to a lever arm; and

a lever arm having a first and second end, said first end engaging said valve stem and said second end coupled to said fuse, said lever arm engaging said fulcrum between said ends and so disposed as to be under tension when engaging said fuse, said valve stem and said fulcrum.

8. The discharge assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said fuse is temperature sensitive.

9. The discharge assembly defined in claim 7, wherein said means for engaging said valve stem coupled to said first end ofv said lever arm is an elliptically shaped hole disposed through said lever arm.

. 10. The discharge assembly defined in claim 9. wherein said valve assembly comprises:

a valve housing having an inside, elongated. cylindrical bore and a valve seat consisting of a reduced inside diameter of said bore, said seat extending along a portion of the length of said elongated bore, said housing adaptable for engaging said fire extinguisher; V

a cylindrical valve member adaptable to sealingly engage said valve seat and movable within said valve seat; and

an elongated valve stem coupled to said valve member for moving said valve member in said bore.

11. The discharge assembly definedin claim 10, wherein said valve stem comprises: an elongated, cylindrical valve stem having two ends, one of said ends coupled to'said valve member and the other said end coupled to a valve release assembly.

. I2. The discharge assembly. defined in claim 11, wherein said valve housing comprises: a valve housing having an inside, elongated, cylindrical bore, said bore having a first and a second end and a valve seat consisting of a reduced inside diameter of said bore, said seat extending along a portion of the length of said bore between the said ends of said bore, said housing adaptable for engaging a fire extinguisher.

13. A discharge assembly for a fire extinguisher where the fire extinguisher is suitable for being attached to a container comprising:

a valve housing having an inside, elongated, cylindrical bore, said bore having a threaded first end and a second end and a valve seat consisting of a reduced inside diameter of said bore, said seat extending along a portion of the length of said bore between said ends of said bore. said first end of said bore coupled to a discharge port and the second end of said bore coupled to the inside of said fire extinguisher, said housing adaptable for engaging a fire extinguisher;

' a cylindrical valve member adaptable for moving in said bore, and for receiving an O-ring;

a lever arm having a first and second end, said first end suitable for engaging said other end of said valve stem and said second end suitable for engaging said fuse, said lever arm engaging said fulcrum between said ends and so disposed as to be under tension when engaging said fuse, said valve stem and said fulcrum. 

